Robert Cox

Born and raised on a farm close to where I live now on the outskirts of Manchester. Although I was fascinated with Art from a very young age it wasn’t an option, and I qualified and worked as a technical engineer and then went into business. The urge to paint never subsided and if anything just got stronger as I painted as a hobby until 2006 when I decided to try working full time as an Artist.

Self-taught, I am always exploring new ideas and themes, and this is reflected in the eclectic style and range of works I have produced whilst exploring the range of wonderful materials and techniques that make art such great fun. I am passionate about painting and virtually every waking hour I am either in my studio or am thinking of new ideas. I often work from early morning to late evening, each painting is like a journey which unfolds from the initial creative spark through to completion. I usually work in oils on canvas, and often introduce other mediums to achieve a desired effect. I find my engineering knowledge is useful in the technical understanding of the mediums I use to achieve some unique results.

My favourite is applying thick heavy oil paint and I have spent years refining my technique. I do this ‘Impasto Style’ using a range of palette knife tools, several of which I have modified to achieve my results.

I love the heavy 3D ‘sculptured oils’ effect I create and the visible mood changes and depth emphasized by my technique that become apparent to the viewer under different light conditions. I am often told that my paintings look even better in the home environment than they do on a gallery display.

My favourite subject has to be Poppies and the evocative feelings they stimulate. I am fortunate to have flowers including poppies growing freely near my home which gave my original inspiration. I find it fascinating the multitude of flowers yet no two are ever identical and I am drawn to the beauty, fragility and the feeling of ‘tangled desperation’ I see when observing their chaotic existence. In some ways not dissimilar to humanity, the fragile existence and struggle to survive and thrive before it comes to an end. However, they get to start again the next spring.

I am always genuinely thrilled whenever someone buys one of my paintings, knowing that they are placing it in their home. It’s a special feeling.

My work is held in collections in the UK, Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia and Dubai.